Prabhaat Inspiration

Signs You May Be Demisexual

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In an age in which we are constantly one swipe away from our next relationship, the idea of romance is rushed and convenient in a way that it never has been before. Apparently, you should be able to follow your gut, or some mystical inner voice that tells you whether you’re right for that person. But it’s impossible for some people to operate that way. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what it means to be demisexual, and whether or not the term applies to you, then read on. Demisexuality is just one of many shades on the scale of asexuality, but put into layman’s terms, it’s the difficulty in feeling sexual attraction to someone you’re not friends with first. According to asexuality.org:

A demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone. It’s more commonly seen in but by no means confined to romantic relationships. Nevertheless, this term does not mean that demisexuals have an incomplete or half-sexuality, nor does it mean that sexual attraction without emotional connection is required for a complete sexuality. In general, demisexuals are not sexually attracted to anyone of any gender; however, when a demisexual is emotionally connected to someone else (whether the feelings are romantic love or deep friendship), the demisexual experiences sexual attraction and desire, but only towards the specific partner or partners.

Of course, being demisexual means different things to different people, depending on their experiences. But here’s where the struggle comes in. The way most relationships start out these days, there is no way to set up an arrangement whereby people meet each other with the intention of being friends and then waiting for however long to see if romantic feelings crop up. If you’re dating in a big city, for instance, the primary way to meet people is online or through apps. And while you can generally tell on a first date whether or not you’d want to be friends with someone, it’s nearly impossible for a demisexual person to decide whether or not you’d be sexually attracted to them without the element of friendship and trust already in place — despite the fact that this seems to be the expectation of modern dating. The current climate demands that at the end of a date, you know right then whether you’re in or out. And you can’t exactly explain your feelings to someone you just met, particularly in an age when not engaging in romantic or affectionate activity on dates is considered a rejection.

It can be hard to explain to someone who doesn’t feel this way, because demisexuality is actually quite subtle if you’re not aware of it. If you’re still unsure whether or not this applies to you, then see if you relate to some of the other hallmarks of being demisexual.

Most, If Not All, Of Your Relationships Have Started Out As Friendships

There is an element of complete trust and security that attracts you to them. It’s not just the feeling of safety, or the sense of being able to predict what they’ll do or how they’ll react. It’s bone-deep, an attraction for who they are as a whole that makes you see them in an entirely different light than you did when you first met. There is no honeymoon phase in relationships for you, because what other people typically refer to as a “honeymoon” phase is more of your “uncertainty” phase. You’re much more comfortable and attracted to someone long after you know all the little details about their lives, how they feel about things, what makes them tick.

You Frequently Put More Pressure On First Dates Than Other Friends

While the rest of the world seems to be moaning about how commitment-phobic our generation is, you feel an entirely different kind of pressure, because you know that when it comes down to it, people expect you to have a genuine gauge for how you will proceed with them after a first date. So you focus too much on everything. You nitpick, or you look for cosmic signs. You talk to too many people about it, or you’re so afraid of getting influenced that you don’t tell anyone at all. If you’ve ever ghosted, it isn’t out of disinterest so much as out of being at a complete and utter loss. You don’t want to waste their time or hurt anyone by continuing to date them unless you’re sure you’re attracted to them, and you can’t be sure unless you continue to date them for a while, so BOOM. You are a human catch-22.

You Still Feel Primary Sexual Attraction To Strangers — But It’s Fleeting

A misconception about demisexuals is that they only feel the one kind of attraction toward best friends, but the truth is that they feel other kinds of attraction, too. Asexuality.org explains, for instance, that there is “primary” sexual attraction — the attraction to what you see first, like a person’s looks, aesthetic, and/or the way they carry themselves — and secondary sexual attraction, which is more rooted in personality and the way you connect with someone. In relationships, demisexuals operate almost solely on secondary attraction. That doesn’t mean that we don’t occasionally see a hot person on the subway and start to sweat. It’s just fleeting, is the thing — and if we ever actively pursued it, chances are the attraction would be gone almost immediately.

Your Crushes Seem Like A Really Big Deal

It’s not often that you’re attracted to anyone in the first place, so when you feel that way, the feeling is monumental. Everyone seemed to think we’d all grow out of “having crushes” in adulthood that had the same intensity as the ones we had in junior high or high school, but if anything, yours only seem to have more depth to them than they did when you were younger.

You Have Found Yourself Very Confused In Friendships

Particularly in friendships involving the gender(s) you’re attracted to. Most, if not all, of your unrequited crushes have been born of friendships — ones that you embarked on without any other agenda whatsoever. It gets to the point where you are genuinely surprised when you find that you are attracted to them, and even more surprised by how irreversible it seems. At least a few friendships have gotten awkward in situations when the feelings went unreciprocated, although you find that you can usually work past it to preserve a friendship.

People Often Dub You A “Prude”

“Prude.” “Ice queen.” “Sandra Dee.” “Goody-goody.” You’ve heard it all before. These are just a few of the problematic labels people assign to those who aren’t having as much sex as what’s considered “average,” despite the fact that it’s completely healthy and OK to feel that way. (And really, there is no “average” when it comes to sex). Some people certainly do refrain from sex for their own moral reasons or beliefs, and some (including demisexuals) just have a lack of interest. Regardless, these labels are not just inappropriate and offensive, but inaccurate — no matter what reason a person has for refraining from sex.

In the end, though, you can only do what feels right for you, even when other people project their own feelings and insecurities on your choices. The romantic world is difficult to navigate, no matter how you feel or don’t feel about sex, so the best thing you can do for yourself is trust your gut and stick to it.

16 New YA Rom-Coms That Will Make The Perfect Picnic Read This Summer

Ah, summer. Post-Memorial Day it’s all about being outside in the sunshine, lazy pool days and exciting beach trips, warm weather treats, and — most important of all — tote bags packed to the brim with all of the biggest and best summer reads. Whatever books you love to dive into during the summer, there are ample releases just waiting to be plucked off the shelves and brought along on all of your seasonal adventures. But one of my favorites, and undeniably one of the most popular genres during the steamy months, is a good old fashioned rom-com.

There’s just something about the long, balmy days between June and August that beg for books filled with romance, friendship, family, summer scenes, and, of course, a nice healthy dollop of angsty drama. The 16 summer YA booksbelow all fall perfectly into each of the above categories, with characters you’ll root for, romances you’ll love, and enough references to summer staples to keep you fully immersed in the fleeting season. Pick out your roomiest literary tote and make space for a healthy stack of rom-com reads to carry you through the next three months in reading bliss, wherever your days take you.